Chisom Chikatara came to Abia Warrior’s rescue in a thrilling eastern Nigeria derby as the hosts drew 2-2 with Enugu Rangers at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
Abia Warriors have never defeated the visitors at home in the league and Kennedy Boboye’s men were far from achieving the trick on Sunday.
Coach Boboye said before the match he expected a Flying Antelope onslaught and it duly followed, as the former Nigerian champions produced wave after wave of first-half attacks.
The hosts, three points behind leaders Enugu Rangers in the table, got off to a miserable start as Bobby Clement found the net from close range in the 22nd minute.
The goal stunned Abia Warriors into action and, predictably, they dominated thereafter, but the sheer weight of numbers in Rangers’ defence made life tough for Boboye’s men.
Chikatara failed to convert headers but Ndifreke Effiong gave the home team a lifeline when he won a penalty for them. He was upended by Orji Kalu in the penalty area as the referee’s decision needed no argument.
Abia Warriors soaked up considerable pressure at the end of the half, but Rangers ultimately took the lead as Chisom Egbuchulam hit a superb free-kick four minutes to the half time break as goalkeeper John Ghaadi had no idea.
The visitors made a positive restart to try to break down the four-man Warriors defence with Egbuchulam going close twice in the opening 10 minutes, his second attempt superbly saved by the legs of Ghaadi.
At the other end the Flying Antelopes’ own defending was less impressive and with 65 minutes on the clock they gifted their hosts a second goal, Chikatara escaping the attention of the defenders to bundle home Effiong’s cross.
